The programme features the leading Life Sciences expertise at the University of Würzburg under the auspices of the Faculty of Biology. It also includes the other natural science Faculties of Physics as well as Chemistry & Pharmacy. Relevant research groups that form the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Psychology are also included. The programme is designed to be a fast track programme that leads to a PhD project within the Graduate School of Life Sciences and comprises all of the above-mentioned faculties.
A strong foundation in the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) and substantial experimental research experience is essential for joining this programme.
Prospective students have finished their BSc (or are close to completion) and
have excellent theoretical knowledge;
have practical experience in doing research (minimum: experimental Bachelor's thesis);
want to embark on a doctoral thesis project as quickly as possible;
are willing and able to take on a high workload to achieve this goal;
are very independent and self-organised (this is not a classroom programme);
want to study together with a highly international group of peers;
are truly fully proficient in reading, writing, and speaking the English teaching language; and
are keen to work in a very interdisciplinary environment.
The programme
comprises more than 300 research groups organised in the Graduate School of Life Sciences,
offers a strictly research-oriented curriculum, and
provides an entry point for a research career in academia or industry.
Please mind the following: This is not the right study programme for you
if your main career goal is an MSc degree,
if you are mainly looking for a study programme in the English language,
if you have only a basic education in the natural sciences: study programmes that have a mostly technical/applied content such as nursing, laboratory technology, industrial biotechnology, fisheries science, etc., are not a sufficient prerequisite to apply. Neither are medical/veterinary programmes, unless experimental research experience can be proven (see below), and/or
if you lack experimental research experience (practical courses are not considered to be research).
Requirements
Entry Requirements
Degree/credit requirements:
In order to be admitted, by the time of admission (not application!), you must have finished a BSc study programme of at least three years with an equivalent of 180 credit points according to ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). If you apply from outside Europe, your BSc study programme will be considered as equal, but will be evaluated for equivalence in case of doubt. An essential authority in this process is the federal "Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen". (http://www.kmk.org/zab)
If you have not yet finished your BSc at the time of application, you need to provide documents that prove that you have completed 5/6 of your regular study programme (e.g., 150 of 180 ECTS credit points in European study programmes).
Subject requirements:
Your BSc programme must be in biology or at least have a special emphasis/specialisation/major in some aspect of the life sciences and natural sciences (e.g., biophysics, biotechnology, pharmacology, etc.) that comprises experimental research experience through working in a natural science laboratory. Please note that study programmes that have mostly technical or applied content, such as nursing, laboratory technology, industrial biotechnology, fisheries science, agriculture, and similar programmes, are not a sufficient prerequisite to apply. A medical education is also not a sufficient prerequisite, unless experimental research experience, e.g. from projects during internships at research institutes, can be proven.
